Las Vegas couple gives birth to quadruplets at Banner Good Samaritan
PHOENIX (Jan. 26, 2009) – A Las Vegas couple welcomed four new members to their family early Saturday morning, Jan. 24.
The babies were born between 2:15 a.m. and 2:18 a.m. to Dafna Noury and husband, Eli Zohar, following a 33-week, 4-day pregnancy.* Dafna and Eli are the first couple from Las Vegas to deliver quadruplets at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, but one of the many families who have relocated to Phoenix for specialized care for their high-risk pregnancy.
Dafna and Eli are the new parents of:
- BABY BOY A, Jet Adam; 3 lbs, 10 oz; 2:15 a.m.
- BABY BOY B, Sky Michael; 2 lbs, 15 oz; 2:16 a.m.
- BABY GIRL C, Aurelia Elizabeth; 3 lbs, 4 oz; 2:17 a.m.
- BABY BOY D, Max Ethan; 4 lbs, 1 oz; 2:18 a.m.
These are the family’s first children.
Following delivery, the infants are being cared for by Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s neonatology specialists. The Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), located inside Banner Good Samaritan, is operated by Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The connection between the two hospitals means mom can recover at Banner Good Sam, but remain only a short walk away from her babies.
In the summer of 2008, after finding out that one would be four, the family started researching multiples. One name remained constant: Dr. John Elliott, director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Banner Good Samaritan. Referred to as the “quad god” on national multiples Web sites, Dafna and Eli were certain of their decision.
Dafna arrived in Arizona in September to be near her physicians. Unlike most multiple moms, Dafna was able to remain in the community until one week ago, with frequent visits to the hospital and physician offices for IV therapy and careful monitoring of the babies’ growth and well-being.
Dr. Elliott, his colleagues at Phoenix Perinatal Associates and the nursing staffs at Banner Good Samaritan and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, have developed an international reputation for their care and management of women delivering high-order multiples (triplets or more). Banner Good Samaritan has delivered nearly 100 sets of quadruplets, ten sets of quintuplets and two sets of sextuplets.
Most of the quadruplets and quintuplets delivered at Banner Good Samaritan have come to Phoenix from another part of the country or even outside the U.S. This is thought to be more sets of high-order multiples than has been delivered at any other hospital in the U.S., and perhaps the world. Banner Good Samaritan is also a national referral center for many other kinds of high-risk obstetrical cases.
“These nationwide referrals say a lot for the reputation of perinatal and neonatal care provided by Banner Good Samaritan and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and the physicians at Phoenix Perinatal Associates,” said Dr. Elliott. “We feel we have been very privileged to care for a number of mothers expecting quadruplets and other high-order multiples.”
About Banner Good Samaritan
Located in downtown Phoenix, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care since 1911, and is the flagship hospital within Banner Health. Licensed for 659 inpatient beds, Banner Good Samaritan is recognized as a Magnet™ hospital for nursing excellence and is ranked as one of America’s “Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report. Today, more than 3,600 nurses and Banner Good Samaritan staff members work with more than 1,700 physicians representing nearly 50 specialties to provide care to more than 36,000 inpatients each year.
* Thirty-eight to 40 weeks is considered full-term in a singleton pregnancy. Dafna delivered at 33 weeks and 4 days.
